Donate to WCBN!

WCBN’s annual fundraiser is running until February 24th. Your support during these ten days puts new music on the shelf and fixes broken turntables; we need you for our day to day. We ask now that you “resubscribe” to the freeform radio that you love, and support the continued education and cultural enrichment of students at the University of Michigan.

Give us a call or donate online!

$23,946

$50,000 Goal

WCBN at Pitchfork Music Fest

July 21, 2016

By Elle Shwer

Chicago was bumping this past weekend at Pitchfork Music Festival and WCBN was there to watch it all live. Pitchfork Music Festival consisted of a lot of Virtue Cider, free Clif Bars and me challenging my generally mainstream music taste. For the most part, the Pitchfork lineup leaned toward underground artists where the performers themselves were quite diverse in genres. I danced foolishly to soulful R&B British singer NAO, witnessed the makings of “A Footwork Party” brought to the stage by RP Boo and his accomplices, and was inspired by indie pop headliner Sufjan Stevens to live more in the moment (as a result, I have no pictures from his set). Many cite the highlight of the weekend to be Brian Wilson performing Pet Sounds which had the whole crowd singing along to the Beach Boys classics, but I found myself wandering to the smaller stage to watch eclectic R&B/Hip Hop performer Anderson .Paak instead.

My personal favorite performance of the weekend was BJ the Chicago Kid - a popular rapper whose fame arose in the song Studio by Schoolboy Q and has features on Chance the Rapper’s latest mix Coloring Book. Noteable seconds include Anderson .Paak and Neon Indian. Sadly, I had to head back to Ann Arbor before the headliners Sunday and missed the surprise arrival of Chance the Rapper who took the stage with Jeremih.

My only complaint about the weekend is how many of the bands overlapped. As someone who wants to see everything and be everywhere, I found myself spending more time travelling between the three stages then actually taking the time to listen to entire sets. And if one performer started late due to disorganization (usually tech related), it meant I would either have to miss the next band I wanted to see or skip the person I had already waited to 20 minutes in silence to watch.

At the end of the day, I am really lucky to have had the opportunity to attend Pitchfork and I felt pride walking around repping WCBN. Till next time!

It's Hot In Here

Training sessions are held every Sunday at 4pm in our lobby. Go to the Thompson Street entrance of the Student Activities Building (515 Jefferson). Call 763-3500 and we'll buzz you in.Email training@wcbn.org for more information.